Laundry machine provided with end drain means



Feb. 24, 1948. WHEELER 2,436,536

LAUNDRY MACHINE PROVIDED WITH END DRAIN MEANS Filed June 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb; 24, 194&- E. A. WHEELER I 2,436,536

' LAUNDRY MACHINE PROVIDED WITH END DRAIN MEANS V Filed June 27, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

By idllZd/d/Q. Ma /9P 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 24, 1948. E. A. WHEELER LAUNDRY MACHINE PROVIDED WITH END DRAIN MEANS Filed Jung 27, 1946 uvmvrozz. I .idulill'c/fl Wee/e1 Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINE PROVIDED DRAIN MEANS wl'rn END Edward A. Wheeler, Chicago, Ill. Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 879,805

Claims. (Cl. 68-144) tages, inherent in my invention will become apparent from an examination of the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like numerals are used about the drum in which the clothes are placed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a washing machine having an annular perforated drain section about a small portion of its peripheral surface and near the end of that peripheral surface, and an enlarged flanged cylindrical anto designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of my invention with certain portions broken away, and indicated in-section, in order to more clearly elucidate the elemental structure thereof.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken, substantially, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of Fig. 1 showing the driving, or transmission connection,

the base supports, and drain connections" to the sewage system;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken, substantially.

' on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

nular housing enveloping the said perforated drain section.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shell-less washer, which is equipped with an annular drain section comprising, a coronal outer circumferential perforated end portion on the open end section thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shell-less washing machine of the aforementioned character, which has a body drain section located at its open end, the said section consisting of an annular peripheral perforated drain section in combination with an annularlyshaped and perforated coronal end section.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. valve structure adapting my machine for washing purposes, and for rinsing purposes; the said valve being closed to seal the open end of the body when washing. and opening the same for draining and rinsing purposes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shell-less washing machine of the afore-mentioned character having a drain section about the end of its body portion, and which has in combination a reversible drive mechanism subjecting the body of the washer to an intermittent, or reciprocal movement of several revolutions clockwise, and several revolutions counter-clockwise to complete the cycle of its operation.

Another-object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the afore-mentioned character, which is practical in construction, useful. and efllcient for the purposes for which it is purported to be used, and of such simple, elemental construction as to warrant economical manufacture thereof in quantity production.

Other features, cbiectaand ancillary advan Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction of the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, it being a cross-sectional view with certain portions broken away to more clearly indicate the structure of thereversing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the important feature of my invention illustrated in the foregoing Figs. 1 to 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing a slightly modified form of end drain-system.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, with certain portions indicated in section, of still another slightly modified form of end drain means to be utilized in connection with my invention.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1 indicating a knob closure used I in connection with scaling the door of the body.

Referring to the various views, my invention is generally designated Ill, and consists principally of a large, hollow drum II, having annular and annularly circular resting rails I2 thereupon, which are supported in the cradle-like structure comprised of the supporting shafts I5 having the flange rollers I6 mounted thereon;

the rails I2 resting on the body I8 thereof, and I being confined against lateral or sidewise displacement by means of the flanges I6 which are rotatably confined by the collars I3, holding the same rotatably in place in confinement between the base upright supports 20 and 2|; the body I8 being mounted on suitable ball or roller bearings I 1, whereas the collars I3 being held in place by set screws on the shafts I5. The terminal portions of the shafts I5 are rigidly secured in the holes I9 preventing the same from rotating. Thus, the rollers I8 rotate idly and freely whenever the drum I I is subjected to rotation by virtue of the drive mechanism to be later described.

The drum H has anenclosed end section 82 which is properly and suitably reinforced by end reinforcement plates 33 and 34, secured and placed so as to facilitate assembly of the piping connection at its axial and central point. The inlet 35 is connected to the pipe line 31 which is equipped with a T-connection 86 and a valve 38 for shutting the water off. or turning it on, and permitting it to be fed into the confines of the body H. Inasmuch as this body is cradled on the rollers l8 any irregularities in the same may disturb its concentric rotation with respect to the feed opening 35, hence I provide, and show conventionally, the use of a standard equalizer 4!. which will equalize and permit variation in the rotation of the body ll if it should be caused to rotate eccentrically with respect to the center of the outlet and pipe 35.

To the T 36 I also secure a feed line connection 46, which has a control valve 39, so as to enable the feeding of steam into the washer body Ii for certain operations whenever that is deemed necessary. When the feed valve 39 for feeding the steam is to be opened, the water valve 38 may be closed, or the steam may be allowed to bubble through the water into the interior confines of the body I I. The body I I is provided with an opening 26 which is large enough to permit insertion of soiled clothing into the body of the washer i i, and for removal thereof when the operation of washing and cleaning has been completed.

.The opening 26 is closed or sealed by a door 86, which is removable from the body, and secured sealably thereto by means of the hand knobs 3|;

the said hand knobs are suitably .journaled in the door frame proper, and are threadably engaged by the flange portion of the opening 26, being also provided with suitable gasket construction for sealing the same against leakage. The knobs for holding the door 86 tightly are eight in number, inasmuch as the area to be covered is large and the seal must be water tight and steam tight. The cover 86 is provided with two handles 30 convenient for gripping the same, when it is to be manipulated in the attachment to, or removal of the cover from, the body.

The supports 20 and 21 are connected to the base supporting structure 22 which is moored, or secured, to a supporting surface 23, the motor 24 being suitably secured within the confines of the base portion 22, the motor being provided with a suitable driving pinion which engages the V-belt 25, and in turn rotates the driving pulley 42 secured to the shaft 59 and held by collar 43. Inasmuch as it is customary to usually drive such washing machines reciprocally for a number of revolutions approximately three and a fraction revolutions clockwise, and three and a fraction revolution counter-clockwise during the entire cycle of operation, I have indicated suitable reversing mechanism; however, I do not wish to be limited to that specific construction.

Th reversing mechanism, that is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, consists of a driving shaft on which is suitably mounted clutches and gearing to effectuate a reciprocal reversal of movement for a predetermined number of revolutions. The construction indicated consists of gears 44 of annular shape secured to the outer portion of the body ll, one of the said gears 44 is in mesh with a pinion 45, the said pinion 45 being driven by the motor through the belt 25, and the pulley 42, in one direction. The said gear 45 is provided with a hub portion having a set of clutch teeth 49, he said gear 45 being rotatably confined on the shaft 69 preventing movement thereof laterally, so that it is constantly in mesh with the specific gear 44 which it is engaged with. The other gear 44 is in mesh with a gear 46 similar to the gear 45, but it will be noted that the gear 46 in this instance is offset, so that it is in meshing relationship with the gear 44 only through the intermediate pinion, or gear 4?, so that the said gear 46, which is equipped with clutch teeth 48, which when engaged, will be rotated in the same direction as the gear 45; however, the other gear 44, which is to be driven through the intermediate gear, or pinion 47, will cause the drum to rotate in a direction opposed to that when it is driven through the gear 45.

The predetermined number of revolutions are established by the clutch element 66, which has an annular groove portion 68 engaged by the rollers 61 of the iork'element iii. The internal portion of the clutch 50 is provided with keyways which are adapted to operate on the feathered keys 66 secured to the shaft 59; thus, the dual clutch element 56 is permitted to slide right and left as seen at Fig. 4, and yet rotate with the driving shaft 59 that it is mounted on. When the clutch teeth of the element 56 engage the teeth 46, the reverse drive is set up in motion, and contrariwise when the opposite side of the clutch teeth 60 engages the clutch teeth 39, the pinion 45 will cause the drum to rotate in the opposed direction to that when driven by the gears 46 and 41. To effectuate the movement of the dual clutch element 56 for reversal of direction, a fork Si is pivoted at 52 and provided with a roller 53 at its terminus which engages the cam structure 54 having a cam curve 65 and a cam track 56 for each half of its peripheral confines, causing, for a complete turn of the cam, the fork 5! to shift either to the right, or to the left of Fig. 4, the shifting occurring once for every half revolution of the cam.

The cam i suitably secured to the shaft 6|, which is rotatably mounted at 62, and to which is secured the driving gear driven by the pinion 84 mounted on the shaft 69. Thus, the cam 54 controls the movement of the clutch 56 so as to be given suflicient time to cause the body 5 I to retate three and a fraction times in one direction, and three and a fraction times in the opposed direction, and the cycle is repeated as long as the drum is rotated.

In the interior portion of the drum, a series of reinforcement rod 21 are provided, also reinforced ridges 29 on the end section, and partial webs 28 so as to cause the soiled clothing deposited in the drum to be subjected to an agitating movement, the clothes dropping from top to bottom and being arrested from being carried around centrifugally by the drum, if the webs 28 were not present, thus a complete action takes place, giving the water a chance to remove the soil and impurities from the garments that are deposited therein, and thus the washing operation continues until it is-determined that the articles have been cleaned.

The problem now is to remove the soiled water from the drum of the machine, and to do this most effectively, I have provided the end drain means for this purpose, In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 the end drain means is, for one form of my invention, clearly illustrated, and it consists of a series of perforations, or openings 66 on a small peripheral portion near theppen end of the drum H, the same being enclosed by an annular housing 63, having a depending annular flange 85 secured I q to the body ll. Thus, the drained liquid will have to pass through the openportion of my machine rather than through the I clothing itself, and preventing part of the soiled lugs 66 into the confines 64 of the peripheral a drain connection 18, which through the elbow 79, may be connected to the sewage system for eliminating and disposing of the liquids with the soiled contents therein.

During the washing operatiomthe drain structure is ineffective, inasmuch as I provide a closure valve 68, which is made of suitable and reinforced material, and having an annular gasket 69 for closing the'annular opening 81, the valve 68 being provided with a number of openings to slidably guide on the supporting studs 61 fastened to the end portion of the drum II. The said valve 68 is manipulatable to work'to the right and left, as indicated in Fig. 1, by virtue of a valve control consisting of hand wheel 10, which is confined rotatably within the valve 68 at its center by the collar 1|, permitting the hand wheel 10 to rotate freely, the hand wheel 10 being mounted on a stud, which has a threaded portion 12 working in and out within the confines of the threaded bush.-

ing support 13. In this way, the valve 68 may be set to open position as indicated by the full lines, or the closed position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The illustrations of Figs. '7 and 8 show slight modifications, and departures from my form indicated in the remaining figures. In Fig. '7, I attain-a similarly efficient result by providing an annular perforated coronal end 80 for the drum II. The same end guard 76 is provided, the coronal portion 80 being provided with the.drain opening 8 I, and the valve structure 68 operated in and out by virtue of the hand wheel l0 as hereto- "fore recited, depending on whether the operation washing, the valve is closed; in rinsing, the valve is opened. This structure uses practically the same idea, in trying to drain oiT the liquid from the clothes that have, been washed, as distinguished from the present custom of draining through a shell outside of the entire body of the machine, thus draining the dirt, or attempting to drain the dirt through the clean clothes, which in effect, has a tendency to drive some of the dirt back into the clothes. With my method, where I drain from the end, I am providing a drain portion, which is the solution to the problem that laundrymen have had to contend with for years, and I am isolating the drain portion of the machine from the portion where the clean clothing is retained so as to furnish an efiicient drain,

which actually provides a good result. In doing so, I also save in cost of operation, in that a minimum of water, and liquid is being used.

In Fig. 8, I show a slightly modified form of 1 the most important feature of my invention, is the draining of the soiled liquid contents being effectuated, and accomplished, through means situated and isolated away from the clean clothing,

thus draining the soiled matter through an end matter from becoming again imbedded in the clothing that should be completely clean. With present machines, that has been a problem, and hence requires several washing and rinsing operations to get out dirt ininstalments, rather than taking it out in its entirety, as can be accomplished with my machine. In other words, present machines must necessarily sift the dirthrough the clean clothes.

I believe, I have herein illustrated and described the nature of my invention, and expounded, in expository form, the teachings so that those familiar with the art will be able to practice my invention. Inasmuch as the same is susceptible of many modifications, alterations, and improvements, I hereby reserve the right to any improvements, alterations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of my invention and disclosure, also the right to any improvements impliably embraced in the accompanying illustrations depicting the generally suggested elemental structure of my invention, and also any modifications, improvements, or alterations, falling within the purview of the foregoing description;' my invention to be limited only by the subjoined .claims.

drain means and the said stationary drain means.

2. In a laundry machine of the character described, drum means rotatably confined and provided with perforated peripherally cylindrical drain means confined to a comparatively small portion of its outer peripheral surface, an annular housing enveloping the said drain means defining a valve opening therebetween, stationary drain means encasing the said annular housing, and valve means secured to the said drum means provided with manipulative means extending through an opening in the said stationary drain means adapted to establish communication 1 through the said valve opening between the said drain means and the said stationary drain means.

3. In a laundry machine of the character described, drum means rotatably confined and provided with peripheral end drain means, annular housing means enveloping the said end drain mean defining a valve opening therebetween, stationary drain means encasing the said annular housing means, and valve means secured to the said stationary drain means adapted to establish communication through the said valve opening.

between the said end drain means and the said stationary drain means.

4. In a laundry machine of the character described, drummeans rotatably confined and provided with peripheral end drain means, annular housing means enveloping the said end drain means defining a valve opening therebetween, stationary drain means encasing the said annular housing means, and valve means secured to the i said drum means provided with manipulative means extending through an opening in the said stationary drain means adapted to establish communication through the said valve opening between the sald drain means and the said stationary drain means.

5. In a laundry machine of the character described,' drum means rotatably confined and provided with peripheral end drain means, annular housing means enveloping the said peripheral end drain means defining a, valve opening therebetween, stationary drain means encasing the said annular housing means, valve means secured to the said drum means provided with manipulative means extending through an opening in the said stationary drain means adapted to establish communication through the said valve opening between the said drain means and the said stationary drain means, and guide studs secured to the end of the said drum means, the said valve means being provided with guide openings slidably engaging the said guide studs.

, EDWARD A. WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

